Occupational Therapist I
The Occupational Therapist I provides comprehensive occupational therapy services focused on treatment and prevention of physical disabilities using specialized therapeutic techniques and equipment. This role involves patient assessment, treatment planning, wound care management, interdisciplinary collaboration, clinical instruction, and participation in quality improvement and accreditation activities within a hospital setting. The therapist ensures compliance with licensure and regulatory standards while delivering high-quality patient-centered care.
About Careertakes
👉 Important disclosure: Careertakes is a third-party recruiting platform supporting this hiring process. If selected, you will be employed directly by our client, Healthcare & Nursing.
Applicants for this role may also receive access to additional matched opportunities through the Careertakes platform.
Primary Function
Serves as an Occupational Therapist (Occupational Therapist I) providing high-quality occupational therapy to treat or prevent physical disability or disease using therapeutic activities, special equipment, and activities of daily living across inpatient and outpatient settings for our confidential client in Cherokee, NC.
Job Duties and Responsibilities
- Practices as a licensed Occupational Therapist delivering assessment, individualized treatment planning, and interventions for a broad variety of inpatient and outpatient conditions.
- Provide patient and family education, discharge planning, and case coordination with primary care and multidisciplinary teams.
- May manage a wound-care caseload; will use evidence-based wound care practices and coordinate with WOCNs (training provided if needed).
- Participate as a clinical instructor for OT/OTA students and provide in-service training to clinical staff and community partners.
- Maintain accurate documentation to support reimbursement and compliance with accrediting agencies.
- Contribute to quality improvement, clinical research, and specialty clinics as needed.
- Develop and maintain clinical processes under the direction of the Rehabilitation Department Manager; may cover managerial duties in the manager’s absence.
- Communicate professionally and effectively with patients, families, clinical peers, and external providers.
Education & Experience
- Graduate of an accredited occupational therapy program (OT degree or equivalent).
- Current North Carolina Occupational Therapist license or licensure accepted by reciprocity.
- Preferred:
- Entry-level Bachelor’s + 9 years experience, or
- Entry-level Master’s + 3–5 years experience, or
- Entry-level Doctorate + 3 years experience.
Skills & Job Knowledge
- Clinical knowledge in anatomy, physiology, kinesiology, neuroanatomy, biomechanics and disease processes.
- Expertise developing therapeutic programs and comprehensive patient treatment plans.
- Experience or willingness to develop specialty concentration (e.g., Certified Hand Therapist).
- Familiarity with regulatory, documentation, Privacy Act and HIPAA requirements.
- Ability to learn and use the organization’s electronic health record.
Schedule & Supervision
- Full-time; typical 8-hour shift Monday–Friday between 7:30 am and 6:00 pm (schedule set with supervisor).
- Rotation through on-call weekend and holiday schedules as outlined in department policy.
- Reports to the Physical Therapy/Wound Care Department Manager; performs with a high degree of independence and judgment.
Physical, Environmental & Other Requirements
- Role requires mobility (walking, standing, reaching, bending), manual dexterity, and occasional lifting (up to ~50 lbs).
- Work occurs in various clinical settings including inpatient ward, recovery center, outpatient clinic, ED, and occasional satellite clinics (e.g., Tsali Care Center, Snowbird Clinic).
- Use of standard PPE and adherence to infection-control and safety policies required.
- Must maintain confidentiality of patient and administrative records per HIPAA and tribal/federal guidelines.
What We Offer / Why Apply
- Opportunity to practice full-scope occupational therapy across diverse care settings.
- Work with a multidisciplinary team and contribute to training, specialty clinics, and quality-improvement initiatives.
- Support for continuing education and professional development.
Equal Opportunity & Hiring Transparency
Careertakes and our client are Equal Opportunity Employers committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce. We prohibit discrimination or harassment of any kind. To support a fair and efficient hiring process, AI tools may be used to assist with application review or resume screening. These tools do not replace human decision-making. Final hiring decisions are made by people.
If you have questions about how your data is used, please contact us directly.
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